Advancing Biofortification Through Women's Empowerment and Building Partnerships

March 2025: News and Insights

Pakistan’s Zinc Wheat Awareness Campaign Yields Strong Results

In a groundbreaking effort to combat hidden hunger and malnutrition, Pakistan launched a nationwide awareness campaign to promote climate smart biofortified zinc wheat varieties. The initiative, which ran through the 2024-25 wheat cropping season, aimed to empower smallholder farmers particularly women with knowledge and skills they need, enhance nutrition security, and boost livelihoods for millions.?READ MORE

How an Entrepreneur Turned Vitamin A Orange Sweet Potato Vine Production into Income

Loice Matienga, a smallholder farmer and mother of seven from Mazowe, Zimbabwe, relied on farming to sustain her family. However, in recent years, she struggled to make ends meet. Paying for her children’s school fees, buying farming inputs, hiring a tractor, or expanding her farm felt impossible. That breakthrough came when she attended a vitamin A orange sweet potato District Vine Multiplication (DVM) workshop organized by HarvestPlus.?READ MORE

Strengthening Partnership for Advancing Nutrition Security: BCKIC Foundation Partners with HarvestPlus India

The Bhubaneswar City Knowledge Innovation Cluster Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HarvestPlus India, marking an important step in advancing biofortified crops and promoting nutrition security. This collaboration emphasizes the power of strategic partnerships in bridging research, innovation, and market access to ensure that nutrient-rich crops benefit farmers and consumers alike.?READ MORE

Tackling Malnutrition in Tribal Communities: A Strategic Partnership for Nutritional Security

Malnutrition remains a pressing challenge in Nandurbar, Maharashtra, a district where 69.28 percent of the population belongs to tribal communities. Limited access to nutritious food has led to persistent micronutrient deficiencies, particularly among school-going children, affecting their health, cognitive development, and overall well-being. Without adequate nutrition, these children face barriers to learning, growth, and future opportunities.?READ MORE

Spotlighting HarvestPlus Solutions

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor Joins the Nutri-Pathshala Movement

When it comes to inspiring change through food, no one does it better than Chef Sanjeev Kapoor! We are thrilled to have India’s most celebrated chef, Padma Shri Awardee, and a true champion of nutrition, join hands with HarvestPlus Solutions in the fight against malnutrition.?READ MORE

Addressing Malnutrition in Bangladesh: Scaling Zinc Rice Production for a Healthier Future

Bangladesh faces a significant public health challenge: micronutrient deficiencies, including zinc deficiency, affect both children and adults. To combat this issue, HarvestPlus, HarvestPlus Solutions Bangladesh, and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) have partnered under the Scaling of Biofortified Crop Production project to improve access to nutrient-dense crops.?READ MORE

In the News

Biofortification Offers Hope in the Face of Climate-induced Malnutrition

Climate change has become a direct threat to global food security and human nutrition. Rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and increased exposure to pests and diseases are putting immense pressure on agricultural systems. Essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, and protein are expected to decrease by up to 17 percent due to these climate-induced changes. READ MORE

Pakistani Women Lead Fight Against Malnutrition with Biofortified Crops

Women farmers in rural areas of Punjab and Sindh are spearheading a nutrition-focused agricultural shift by cultivating biofortified zinc-enriched wheat, improving both household health and financial stability.?After receiving training from HarvestPlus, these women have integrated the nutrient-rich crop into their diets, addressing zinc deficiencies and enhancing overall well-being of their families.??READ MORE

New Initiative to Combat Malnutrition Gains Momentum

A new initiative in the fight against malnutrition is gaining traction with the support of celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor. He has partnered with HarvestPlus Solutions' Nutri-Pathshala, an initiative focused on improving school meals through biofortified foods like iron pearl millet and zinc wheat. Over the past two years, the program has served more than 25 lakh nutritious meals, addressing malnutrition at its root.?READ MORE

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